📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Designer - Kids (Premium Brand)
🔹 Company: Centric Brands
🔹 Location: New York, NY
🔹 Job Type: Full-Time, Hybrid
🔹 Category: Design
🔹 Date Posted: March 24, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 4-7 years
🔹 Remote Status: On-site/Hybrid
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Designing for a premium kids' brand within the Centric Brands portfolio
- Executing seasonal design development processes from concept to delivery
- Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, including technical design, production, and vendors
- Ensuring timely execution of product development calendars and maintaining design archives
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of the kids' apparel market and the ability to translate trends into age-appropriate designs for a premium brand.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Research and identify trend directions, perform competitive analysis, and pull fabrics, design concepts, and presentation boards for meetings
✅ Execute development of initial seasonal design categories in context of larger assortments and cost structures
✅ Design according to style plans, sales needs, and emerging trends, ensuring timely execution of product development calendars
✅ Create Illustrator sketches, review specification sheets and line sheets, and ensure maintenance of designs in PLM systems or shared drives
✅ Select and review raw materials and trims, ensuring maintenance of fabric/trim libraries
✅ Approve lab dips with Senior Designers and ensure consistency with color standards and licensor directives, where appropriate, and review prints and graphics where appropriate and advise revisions
✅ Manage fit process and coordinate follow-up with internal and external customers and partners
✅ Build collaborative relationships with vendors and internal customers
✅ Contribute positively to team dynamics and manage up where necessary, and attract, develop, and retain talent
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a high level of creativity and attention to detail, as well as strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design
Experience: 4-7 years of experience in apparel design
Required Skills:
- Superior organizational skills and excellent communication skills; team oriented
- Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines; highly detail oriented, meticulous, and creative
- Creativity, technical capability, and sensibility for merchandising; ability to sketch
- Extensive knowledge of garment construction, pattern making, silhouettes, color ways, sewing techniques, fabrication, and trim; familiarity with print design and manufacturing
- Highly proficient in Microsoft Office, Adobe products, CAD, and Mac computers
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with a premium kids' brand
- Familiarity with PLM systems
ASSUMPTION: Candidates with experience in kids' apparel design and familiarity with premium brands will be prioritized.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $75,000 - $90,000 per year
Benefits:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) matching
- Generous PTO and Summer Fridays
- Merchandise discounts
- Excellent career development opportunities
Working Hours: Full-time, Monday-Friday, with flexibility for hybrid work arrangement
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a designer with 4-7 years of experience in the kids' apparel market. The final offer may vary based on the candidate's experience and qualifications.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Retail Apparel and Fashion
Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees
Founded: 2006 (as a private company)
Company Description:
- Centric Brands is a global leading lifestyle brand collective that designs, sources, markets, and sells high-quality products in multiple segments, including kids, men’s, and women’s apparel, accessories, entertainment, and beauty
- The company has unparalleled expertise in product design, development, and sourcing, retail and digital commerce, marketing, and brand building
- Centric Brands' portfolio includes licenses for over 100 iconic brands and owns and operates several proprietary brands
Company Specialties:
- Apparel design and development
- Brand management and licensing
- Retail and digital commerce
- Marketing and brand building
Company Website: www.centricbrands.com
ASSUMPTION: Centric Brands' extensive experience in the fashion industry and its diverse portfolio of brands make it an attractive employer for designers seeking to work on a variety of projects and brands.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level designer with 4-7 years of experience
Reporting Structure: Reports to the Senior Designer or Design Director
Work Arrangement: Hybrid, with a mix of on-site and remote work
Growth Opportunities:
- Progression to Senior Designer or Design Director roles
- Expansion into other brands or categories within the Centric Brands portfolio
- Opportunities to work on special projects or collaborations
ASSUMPTION: This role offers strong growth potential for designers looking to advance their careers in the fashion industry.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid, with a mix of on-site and remote work
Office Location(s): 350 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10118
Geographic Context:
- New York City offers a vibrant and diverse cultural scene, with numerous fashion events and opportunities for networking
- The office is located in Midtown Manhattan, with easy access to public transportation
- The city's cost of living is higher than the national average
Work Schedule: Full-time, Monday-Friday, with flexibility for hybrid work arrangement
ASSUMPTION: The hybrid work arrangement offers a good balance between on-site collaboration and remote flexibility.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screen with the HR department
- In-person or virtual interview with the Design Director or Senior Designer
- Portfolio review and design challenge
- Final interview with the hiring manager
Key Assessment Areas:
- Design skills and creativity
- Knowledge of the kids' apparel market and trends
- Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders
- Organizational skills and attention to detail
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your experience and skills relevant to this role
- Prepare a strong portfolio showcasing your design process, sketches, and final products
- Be ready to discuss your design inspiration and how you translate trends into age-appropriate designs for a premium brand
ATS Keywords: Kids' apparel design, premium brand, trend research, seasonal design development, PLM, Adobe Illustrator, Mac computers, collaboration, stakeholder management
ASSUMPTION: The interview process will focus on assessing the candidate's design skills, creativity, and ability to work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- CAD software
- PLM systems (e.g., Centric PLM)
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with these tools is required for this role, and proficiency will be expected.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Creativity and innovation
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Customer focus and excellence
- Integrity and respect
- Accountability and results-driven
Work Style:
- Fast-paced and dynamic
- Collaborative and team-oriented
- Results-driven and deadline-focused
- Creative and innovative
Self-Assessment Questions:
- Do you thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment?
- Are you comfortable working with multiple stakeholders and managing projects simultaneously?
- Do you have a strong understanding of the kids' apparel market and the ability to translate trends into age-appropriate designs for a premium brand?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates who are self-motivated, organized, and able to work effectively in a team environment will be well-suited to this role.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
- Working with a diverse range of stakeholders, including internal and external customers and partners
- Keeping up with the latest trends and innovations in the kids' apparel market
- Adapting to a fast-paced and dynamic work environment
ASSUMPTION: These challenges require strong organizational skills, adaptability, and the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other designer roles within Centric Brands, this role focuses specifically on kids' apparel design for a premium brand
- In the broader fashion industry, this role is similar to other kids' apparel designer positions, with a focus on premium brands
- Career progression in this role may lead to senior designer or design director positions within Centric Brands or other fashion companies
ASSUMPTION: This role offers strong growth potential and the opportunity to work on a variety of projects and brands within the Centric Brands portfolio.
📝 Sample Projects
- Designing a seasonal collection for a premium kids' brand, from concept to delivery
- Collaborating with external vendors to source fabrics and trims that meet the brand's quality and sustainability standards
- Managing the fit process and ensuring consistency with color standards and licensor directives, where appropriate
ASSUMPTION: These projects require strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the design process for a recent seasonal collection, from concept to delivery?
- How do you collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the successful execution of a project?
- What are the key trends in the kids' apparel market, and how do you translate them into age-appropriate designs for a premium brand?
- How do you manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously?
- What opportunities are there for growth and development within this role and the company?
ASSUMPTION: These questions will help you better understand the role's requirements, the company culture, and the opportunities for growth and development.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your experience and skills relevant to this role
- Prepare a strong portfolio showcasing your design process, sketches, and final products
- Be ready to discuss your design inspiration and how you translate trends into age-appropriate designs for a premium brand
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after your final interview to express your interest in the role
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
